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Today on Window Treatments for Profit Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit! The highest profit margins are in the luxury level of the window treatment market, but how do you attract this market? Today, we'll do a little recap of the IWCE talk I gave a couple of weeks ago on how to do this. Grab a pen and paper for this one! Our Favorite Links Shop38east.com Madeleine MacRae's Home Pro Toolbox Windowworksnj.com Comfortex.com Vitalia Inc. Exciting Windows What's new with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn Live 2023 luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice A Big Thank You to Our Keynote Sponsors: Nancy Ganzekaufer Traci Connell Duke Renders Purchase LuAnn's Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Today With Lori Carpenter: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit. Today I'm joined by someone who understands what it's like to run her business herself from the ground up—my friend Lori Carpenter. I always knew Lori was tenacious and driven. What I didn't realize is that she has handled her own window treatment installs herself. Her journey in her business is incredible, and we all have a lot to learn from her about the value of learning, resilience, and commitment. Pick It Apart [2:38] Lori shares how she's managed to run her business herself with just occasional contracting and minimal help. [10:20] Lori discusses how she has built a thriving business in a small, rural community. [15:12] LuAnn and Lori discuss the value of education and learning in business. [23:23] LuAnn and Lori talk about IWCE and how valuable it can be. [30:00] LuAnn and Lori highlight how knowledge can change the way you show up and prevent pushback on pricing. LuAnn Nigara and Lori Carpenter's Ah-Ha Moments “Had I not gone to the custom home furnishings academy, I don't know what would have happened. That was the turning point for me. After that, I didn't shy away from anything.” - Lori Carpenter “It drives me crazy that consumers will ask about what the designers pay for window treatments, and even crazier that designers will answer the question.” - LuAnn Nigara More About Lori Carpenter: Lori Carpenter is an award-winning, full-service interior design professional known for her outstanding service to homeowners in Arkansas and southern Missouri. The winner of a Houzz Service Award, Lori provides everything from project management and space planning to window treatments and furniture selection. Kitchens and baths are among her areas of expertise. She has worked with hundreds of busy homeowners and has served some of her best clients from the outset of her 20-plus-year career, often designing their primary residences and then their vacation homes. Lori specializes in creating unique, customized interiors, and clients use words like “incredible” to describe her, and they praise her “multitude of talents for home design.” “My goal is to provide a ‘WOW!' factor in every project,” said Lori. “Clients want and deserve something different, personalized and individualized to them. That's what I create.” Her company started as The Grapevine Home, a retail storefront with gifts, decorative accessories, and furniture in the mid-nineties. She closed the retail side of her business to focus on Interior Design in 2016 and rebranded to Lori Carpenter Designs. Lori now offers the only custom design showroom in North Central Arkansas and carries the finest furniture, fabrics, window fashions, accessories, and much more. A North Central Arkansas native, Lori has a vast network of vendors and suppliers. Her “above and beyond” service extends to provide resources for her clients – and an exceptional level of attention to detail and customer care before, during, and after each project. Helping to implement the company's complete design services is a team of some of the region's foremost contractors, painters, electricians, flooring experts, kitchen and bath specialists, and other professionals. She is a member of the Interior Design Society, serving as President for the Arkansas Chapter, and was designated as an expert Window Fashion Certified Professional by WF-Vision Magazine, where she was also a board member. She is also a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Window Covering Association of America, and Ethos Design Collective, one of the industry's vetted luxury designers. Connect with Lori Carpenter Website Instagram Facebook What's new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn's Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn's Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Shows Mentioned: #134: Deb Barrett: Why Textiles Matter
Today With Jill Ballew: You know I love a systems driven conversation. That's what we're covering today with Jill Ballew, owner of High Country Drapery Design. I've known Jill throughout the years through IWCE and Vita (her business bestie). She is here today to share just one area of her system for what she does when there is a problem in a project. Even I had a major AHA moment. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [5:10] Jill explains her process for when there is a problem in a project. [15:55] Jill gets more in depth with her SOP for when there is an issue. [24:00] Pinpoints a problem with a roman shade and how she documented that. [30:00] Who should we be charging when a product comes in with a flaw? LuAnn Nigara and Jill Ballew's Ah-Ha Moments “Perfectionism is not a word we use in our business, we use excellence because not every project is going to be 100% perfect, it's how we handle it that differentiates us.” - Jill Ballew “These processes and how we handle our day to day is what makes the difference.” - Jill Ballew “The more you can pay attention to how and why you do things then the whole experience for everyone, the customers and your team, exponentially increases in efficiency, enjoyment, and profitability.” - LuAnn Nigara More About Jill Ballew: Jill Ballew has over 28 years of experience in the interior design industry. In 2015, she decided to rebrand her company and start afresh. This big step allowed her to understand more than simply the design behind window treatments. She began to focus on the quality and construction of her products. After working with many designers in the area, Jill unearthed her own creative design skills. She prides herself in the unique customer experience she provides and sincere passion for her work. Jill doesn't simply view her design elements individually. She looks at the space as a whole concept. You can count on Jill to understand current trends and bring a fresh, southern feel to her designs. Connect with Jill Ballew Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest What's new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn's Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn's Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Shows Mentioned: Window Treatments for Profit: #119: Ray Soltis: How to Technically Work Smarter to Grow Your Business A Well-Designed Business: #488: Monica Wilcox: Systems Create Strength & Confidence
Marketing Panes - Marketing Interviews & Tips for Window Treatment and Awning Companies
Want to watch the video version? Click here Marketing Panes is a monthly podcast of marketing interviews like this one. Click here to subscribe on iTunes. In This Episode Learn about the longest-running window treatment conference in North America (and maybe the world!) Find out how Ania's role has significantly grown over the years Learn…
The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Terry Sandlin has been a part of the soft furnishing industry since 1992. Starting in a 1 person workroom, 1 day a week, making cording & ruffles. In 2007 she and her husband relocated to Birmingham, Ala, where she opened Terry's Designing Windows. Terry was a member of the WCAA Birmingham Chapter and served as Secretary for 2 years before they disbanded. Terry was a winner of the 2018 Artisan Project, Demonstrator in the Construction Zone of the 2019 IWCE Conference, and was slotted to demonstrate in the 2020 IWCE -newly named- Workroom Central before it was rescheduled. She was also selected to be an Instructor for the 2021 Custom Workroom Conference. Terry is on Facebook, Instagram Here is the link to Terry's article in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest Links and Resources; Pitch Like A Girl by Rhonna Lichtenberg Workroom Tech The Custom Workroom Conference Ann K. Johnson - Essential Workroom Skills & Efficiency Class Sewing Custom Curtains, Shades, and Top Treatments: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Installing Window Decor by Susan Woodcock
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The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA Helser Brothers, Inc The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Terry Sandlin has been a part of the soft furnishing industry since 1992. Starting in a 1 person workroom, 1 day a week, making cording & ruffles. In 2007 she and her husband relocated to Birmingham, Ala, where she opened Terry’s Designing Windows. Terry was a member of the WCAA Birmingham Chapter and served as Secretary for 2 years before they disbanded. Terry was a winner of the 2018 Artisan Project, Demonstrator in the Construction Zone of the 2019 IWCE Conference, and was slotted to demonstrate in the 2020 IWCE -newly named- Workroom Central before it was rescheduled. She was also selected to be an Instructor for the 2021 Custom Workroom Conference. Terry is on Facebook, Instagram Links and Resources; Pitch Like A Girl by Rhonna Lichtenberg Workroom Tech The Custom Workroom Conference Ann K. Johnson - Essential Workroom Skills & Efficiency Class Sewing Custom Curtains, Shades, and Top Treatments: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Installing Window Decor by Susan Woodcock
The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA Helser Brothers, Inc The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Custom Coverings was established in Peoria Arizona in the fall of 2000 by Linda Tully. After honing her sewing skills and drapery knowledge, Linda was able to build her own custom workroom in 2007. It was large enough to meet her growing client demand and enabled her to hire help. Custom Coverings was awarded Workroom of the Year in 2011 by Window Fashions Vision magazine. Then in 2012 the Tully family began a journey that took the workroom on an unpredictable cross country tour. Linda has worked with talented designers in California, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arizona. Linda was happy to have two long years with the Shivers Team in Nixa and helped Nola Shivers win 1st place in the Window Treatment category of Decorating Den’s annual Dream Room contest. That same year Linda attended IWCE as a speaker. She shared her favorite workroom tips and tricks, taught pattern making, and described her process of sketching to scale. In March 2019, Linda attended IWCE and won 1st place in both Combination Treatments and Specialty Windows, and 2nd place in Top Treatments all with entries made in Lexington Kentucky. Custom Coverings was also grateful to be honored with the title of Workroom of the Year. Linda’s early years in business helped her learn the importance of collaboration between the workroom and designer. Custom Coverings specializes in challenging windows and combination top treatments. Linda currently works with designers across the country from her workroom in Scottsdale, AZ, with a second workroom in the planning stages to be located in Temple, Texas. Linda is on Instagram and Facebook Help me celebrate my 200th Episode Click below to leave me a Speakpike message about the Best Advice you have ever received. You have 90 seconds to leave your name, location and the best advice you have ever received! Leave me a Speakpipe message
Scanner School - Everything you wanted to know about the Scanner Radio Hobby
NXDN stands for Next Generation Digital Narrowband NXDN was created in 2003 with a joint venture of Kenwood and Icom. The protocol was announced at IWCE in 2005 and the first units arrived in 2006. It wasn't until 2017 that NXDN was published by the ITU-R as an international digital land mobile system. NXDN was created to satisfy the 2005 FCC Narrowbanding mandate. Originally created for business users, NXDN is used by public safety and even the military. Overseeing NXDN development and standards is the NXDN Forum. A 30 member community including JVC Kenwood, Icom, Anritsu, The Boeing Company, and Zetron. NXDN Comes in 3 flavors NXDN Standard (As defined by the CAI) Kenwood's NEXEDGE Icom's IDAS NXDN operates using FDMA over 12.5kHz or 6.25kHz wide bandwidth. All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session43 Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!
The Opportunity Thinking Podcasts are sponsored by; On Today’s podcast, Vita Vygovska, Jeanelle Dech, and Sue Fresconi talk about business growth. we talk about the decision to grow or not and how many factors and decisions are involved. There is a lot to take in today Vita shares her growth risk analysis where she lists and ranks the pros and cons of the adding employees as a path for expanding her business. If you haven’t listened to Vita’s first podcast with me, number 63 be sure to listen to that as well. We refer to a spreadsheet that Vita put together and if you go to http://www.curtainsandsoftfurnishingspro.org/ you can get a copy of the spreadsheet for free. Jeanelle Dech is President and Co-Founder of Adaptive Textiles, an innovative textile printing company in West Chester, PA. She is a friendly and engaging speaker, known for her Fit-Like-a-Glove slipcovers, SPEED sewing method, and workroom profitability training. She is the creative inspiration behind The Workroom Channel's METHOD SHARE and REAL WORKROOM series (www.TheWorkroomChannel.com), and the new Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library (www.curtainsandsoftfurnishingspro.org), which hosts the industry's largest collection of educational resources for Home Décor Professionals. I interviewed Jeanelle in podcast episode number 9. Vitalia (Vita) Vygovska is the award-winning author, speaker, business coach, and window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc.- Fine Window Treatments & Interiors, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, and installation service, servicing exclusively interior designers and architects. In business for almost 12 years, Vita and her team are proud to be experts in their niche field, providing their clients with superb quality product and excellent communication. I interviewed Vita in podcast episode 63. Sue Fresconi is the Librarian for the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library, and a Project Manager at Adaptive Textiles. Sue has had an extensive corporate career in Human Resources, Training and Development, and Project Management. She operated a home-based workroom on a part-time basis for several years. Sue was selected to participate in the CHF Academy Alumni Showcase twice; creating her designs for exhibition at IWCE. She holds a BS in Textiles from the University of Delaware, the PMP (Project Management Professional) designation from the Project Management Institute, and the CSM (Certified Scrum Master) designation from Scrum Alliance. Please check out the Transparency Initiative!! And please take the survey. Here are links to some of the things we talked about; Vita's Book Michael Hyatt’s book Living Forward If you would like to reach out to Vita, you can email her at Vita@vitaliainc.com
The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA Working as an interior designer, drapery workroom, and upholsterer for over 20 years Jill Ragan Scully, owner of Impressive Windows & Interiors, LLC, has a strong passion for the soft furnishing industry. This diverse skill set is apparent in each space in which she designs for the clients in which she has the pleasure of working. Jill has been a fixture within the WFCP program for eight years teaching design and workroom of classes at both IWCE as well as online. She recognized the need for access to a broader range of products and services for her peers, so Jill founded My Designer Concierge, a buying group for the soft furnishing industry. She recently expanded these efforts by providing valuable business services such as digital newsletters and affordable websites exclusively for her peers. Jill also works as the content manager for Drapery & Design Digital Digest, seeking articles and contributing sponsors for this free digital publication. Jill also has a Facebook Business page for Impressive Windows & Interiors, LLC and for My Designer Concierge.
Karen Barnes is the owner of The Elegant Window, a to-the-trade custom drapery and soft goods workroom located in Gilbert Arizona. She is thrilled to be celebrating 20 years in business this year! Karen entered the custom drapery and soft furnishings business in 1997 working with both retail and with the design trade. Five years into the business, Karen realized that what she truly loved was working with talented interior designers and bringing their ideas and vision to fruition. Her reputation for her attention to detail and high standards in workmanship quickly spread within the design community. In 2003, Karen switched to wholesale only and she, along with her great team of employees, have been creating exquisite, high-quality soft furnishings to the design trade ever since. In 2009, Karen entered the IWCE Ingenuity Workroom Competition and was awarded Workroom of the Year, the most prestigious award for drapery workrooms. She also was awarded First Place in Specialty Treatments and 2nd place in Top Treatments. In 2011, she again had a winning entry in the Ingenuity Workroom Competition and won 1st place in Specialty Treatments. In 2016, Karen won 1st place at Arizona North Chapter’s ASID Design Excellence Awards in the category of Industry Partner, Commissioned. In 2017, she again had winning entries at IWCE. She won 1st place in Specialty Treatments, 2nd place in Ingenious Installation and a 2nd place tie in Top Treatments. Karen is looking forward to the challenging role of judge in 2018 for IWCE’s Ingenuity Workroom Competition, as she has done on two previous IWCE competitions. The treatments fabricated by the team at The Elegant Window have been published in several magazines including Window Fashion Vision, Phoenix Home and Garden and Desert Design. Karen is a Certified Workroom Expert through the Window Fashions Certified Professionals Program. Her affiliations include membership in the Window Coverings Association of America, as well as membership in the Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals, Drapery and Design Professional Network, and is an Industry Partner with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). Links of things mentioned on the show; Custom Draperies in Interior Design This book is still available on Amazon and you can use the affiliate link above. Find Karen on Facebook. For information about submitting to IWCE click here. The Expo will be held in Tampa, FL March 27 - 28, 2018.
I had such a great time helping out in Houston for the Artisan Project Weekend, helping to fabricate the vignettes for IWCE. I did short interviews with the following talented people; Terri Booser Sande Ober Dori of Doriginals Kevin Kise of Kise Interiors Rachel Barrera of Sugar & Spice Draperies and Shades Julie Wood of the Leading Edge Drapery Julia Tamer of Golden Valley Slipcovers Tish Harmon of EC Interiors
The podcast is sponsored by; Scarlet Thread Consulting The Workroom Channel WCAA Caterina Meadows, of Pate Meadows Designs will make you laugh! Before the label “strong willed child” was so widely used, there was “hardhead”. Caterina wears the label hardhead proudly but sometimes considers “passionate” to be a more politically correct description. She lovingly accuses her parent’s of creating a monster for telling her from the time she could sit up “there’s nothing you can’t do”. If you’re told something long enough – it’s embedded forever! Sometimes, however, that tends to make life miserable for people around you. Caterina is most known as the Meadows of the dynamic duo Pate Meadows Designs and ShowHome Patterns. Way before PMD, Caterina knew she never wanted to go to college. Her goals were always: 1) Marry her high school sweetheart, Danny – which she did – two weeks after graduating high school, 2) Get a job in a big office - did that - her typing skills were way above average so as soon as she graduated high school she was hired as one of the youngest administrative assistants for Bradley, Arant, Rose and White (huge – huge law firm) and 3) Buy a house – “A” house has turned into – 11 over the years. Only 1 of the 11 required no renovations – that’s because she and Danny built it. Working with her hands, Caterina describes - is a type of addiction – whether it is crocheting with her grandmother, sewing, typing, or laying hardwood flooring. After her first child, Haley, was born she quickly realized she never wanted to set foot back in an office again. Typing, although she loved, required being tied down in a cubical all day. And for her A personality it was torture to endure. So the day she left – albeit terrifying to give up the nice salary – she has never looked back. Her accomplishments (with the help of Leigh Pate, Doug Pate, and Dan Meadows and too many others to list so far have been: • 1986 to 199(?) Caterina’s Customs – custom fabrication of anything sewn. “there’s nothing I can’t do” was my motto • 199(?) joined workrooms with Leigh’s Window Fashions to alleviate the stresses of owning single person workrooms • 1995 – Pate Meadows Designs was incorporated and went on to become one of the most highly sought after custom fabrication team in the Southeast • 1996 – Big year! Show Home Patterns was born and also partnered with Southern Living Magazine on the first Lowe’s Idea House. • 1996 – 2007 – Primary fabricators for Southern Living Idea Houses • 1997 – 2000 – Pattern development for Southern Living Curtain Patterns • 2002 - Developed the Show Home Hardware • 2004-2005 – Purchased and renovated the condemned McLellan building in Historic Downtown Bessemer • 2005-2015 – McLellan building was home to PMD and host to many WCAA mettings/educational seminars. Several local high schools made it a recurring field for students in Family and Consumer Sciences classes as well as the Design students attending Birmingham Southern and Samford Colleges. • Technical support and sales rep for ShowHome and Southern Living Patterns • Keynote speaker for many seminars over the years including The Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association, Regional and Local Sewing Conferences as well as other motivational gatherings for students of all ages • Seminar Speaker and Vendors at IWCE, CHF, IWCE and WCAA Education and Trade Conferences. • 2009-Present – Contributing Editor for the Fresh Style and Material Matters columns in Southern Lady Magazine • December 2015 – Leigh retired and Caterina took on the entire business and moved it to Franklin, Tennessee. So in a nutshell, the many hats worn by Caterina include but certainly not limited to: Daughter, wife, mother, best friend for life, instigator, business owner, teacher, cheerleader, home renovator, janitor, sales person, trouble maker, seamstress, customer service, technical support, landlord, entrepreneur, trail blazer, pattern designer, promoter of the “craft” of sewing, custom workroom, lover of life, but most important - master giggler.
Our guest today is Terri Boozer, owner of Studio of Drapery And Fabrication Arts, LLC and Construction Zone Coordinator and Director of The Window Fashions Artisan Project for IWCE. Find out how Terri's business has evolved over the years and how even though becoming an elementary school teacher was not her passion, educating members of our industry has become a huge part of her mission. Terri shares how she conquers those tough days in the workroom. During the interview, Terri mentioned a book, it is; The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome them. You can find Terri at Studio of Drapery and Fabrication Arts, LLC and to find the Window Fashions Artisan Project Contest Guidelines, go to the WFCP Construction Zone and Window Fashions Aritsan Project Facebook page.
We preview some new products coming out this year in the world of two way radio technology. We also review the Uniden Bearcat 880 CB radio. The post TWRS-30 – New Products For 2012 appeared first on Buy Two Way Radios.